Street or station indicator



C. P. F. McDONNELL.

STREET'OR STATION INDICATOR.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT-8,1916.

Patented Dec. 16, 1919.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

TORNEY.

C. P. F. McDONNELL.

STREET OR STATION INDICATOR.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT, 8, l9l6.

Patented Dec. 16,1919.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

AT ORNEY.

C. P. F. McDONNELL.

STREET 0R STATION INDICATOR. I

APPLICATION FILED SEPT-8.1916.

1 ,325,4=81 Patented Dec. 16, 1919.

5 SHEETSSHEET 5.

INVENTOR.

ATT RNEK CORNELIUS P. F. MQDONNELL, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

STREET OR STATION INDICATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented'Dec. 16, 1919.

Application filed September 8, 1916. Serial No. 119,121.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CORNELIUS P. F. Mo-

DONNELL, a citizen'of the United-States, residing at Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Street or Station Indicators, of which the following is a specification.

This inventionrelates to street or station indicators, and has for its object to produce a device of this character which will operate efficiently and embodies the desirable features of compactness, simplicity, strength and durability of construction.

lVith this general object in view the invention consists in certain' novel and peculiar features of construction and combinations of parts as hereinafter described and claimed; and in order that it may be fully understood reference is to be. had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1, is a broken top-plan view of a street or station indicator embodying my invention, certain parts of the casing of the indicator being omitted.

Fig. 2, is a vertical longitudinal section taken on the line 11-11 of Fig. 1, but showing the parts of the casing omitted from said figure.

Fig. 3, is an enlarged end view of the indicator as disclosed by Fig. 1, a part being broken away to illustrate an engagement of parts which otherwise would be hidden.

Fig. 4, is a transverse section taken on the line IVIV of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5, is a central longitudinal section of a spring roller forming a part of the dev1ce.

Fig. 6, is a fragmentary perspective View electrical circuits used in connection with the devices.

Referring now to the drawings it will be seen that a casing is provided consisting of a base plate 1, walls 2, and a removable cover 3 provlded w1th a slght opening or window 4L covered by a transparent plate 5 for excluding dust, the saidplate preferably fitting against theinner face of the cover and being retained in position by clips 6 secured to the cover.

Arranged in the casing and suitably secured to the base thereof is apairof frame plates 7, the same preferablyv paralleling the end walls of the. casing. Tie rods. 8 connect the frame plates remote from the points of securement of the lattertov the base, and journaled in said frame'plates parallel with rods 8 and near the face of the cover is a pair of guide rollers 9, over which.

extends a traveling display apron 10 containing upon its outer face in proper order, the names of the streets or stations passed by the car in its prescribedcourseof travel,

the arrangement being such that the saidv names are successively displayed, as shown by Fig. 8, through the window or observa-v tion opening 4. 7 One end of the apron suitable manner to a roller 11, and the other end to a roller 12. Roller 11 embodies a' fixed shaft 13 and roller 12 a shaft 14 upon which the roller may turn. Both of said shafts at one end are reduced tofit in sock-.

ets in the inner ends of similar short pins 15 mounted for. slldable endwlse movement in one of. the plates 7 and in caps 16 secured.

on the outer ends of cups 17 secured to said is secured in any plate 7 at the outer side thereof, the said 7 pins having shoulders 18 within said cups engaged by springs 19 which bear also against said caps and thus hold the pins pressed yieldingly inward. The opposite end of the shaft 13 fits in a socket in the inner end of a short shaft 20 in the other frame plate 7, the shaft 13 having a cross pin 21 engaging cross grooves in the inner end of said shaft 20 so that power may be transmitted from shaft 20 to shaft 13"to effect rotation of roller 11, and secured on the outer end of shaft 20 is a gear wheel 22.

The shaft 14 fits nonrotatably in a socket at the inner end of a short shaft 23 (Fig. 5), the connection with said shaft correspondingtothat described with respect to the connection between shaft'13andshort shaft 20. The shaft 23 is equipped with a 25' normally heldby the pressure of spring 19 in'engagement witha clutch member 26 on a tubularshaft 27 journaled'onshaft 23.

" V parted to The shaft 27 is journaled in the adjacent frame plate 7, and is equipped with a gear wheel 28, corresponding to gear wheel 22. The last mentioned frame plate 7 forms a bearing or resistance for clutch member 26 so that there shall be no slidable or endwise movement of the tubular shaft 27, but knob 2a is spaced slightly from shaft 27 so that by applying pressure upon the knob, clutch member 25 can be disengaged from clutch member 26, and thus permit shaft 14: to rotate without imparting rotation to clutch member 26.

The roller 12 is hollow, and within the same and fitting around the shaft 14 is a coiled spring 29 secured at one end to a collar 30 secured to the shaft and at the opposite end to a collar 31 secured to one of the end plates of said roller. By this construction it will be seen that when the knobcarrying shaft 23 is unclutched from shaft 27, the shaft 14 can be turned to increase the tension of spring 29, and the object of this construction is to keep the apron 10 taut at all times regardless of the constantly changing relative diameters of the wound portions of the apron upon said rollers, as hereinafter referred to.

32 is a large gear wheel enmeshed with gear wheels 22 and 26, and mounted rigidly on a longitudinal shaft 33 journaled in the adjacent frame plate 7 and in a bearing standard 3% secured to the base i. Journaled at one end in a bore 35 of shaft 33, is a shaft 36 provided with a knob or handle 37 at its outer end and with a conical friction enlargement or member 38 bearing against a tubular shaft 39 journaled in a standard d0 secured to the base 1, said shaft being held against endwise movement toward the said friction member by a collar or enlargement 4L1 bearing against the outer face of said standard. shaft 39 is a pair of ratchet wheels and 43 having teeth reversely faced, the ratchet wheel 43 having a conical reces n in inner end against which the friction 38 is held yieldingly by a spring 15 loea in bore 35 and bearing at its opposite ent against the bottom of said bore and the adjacent end of shaft 36. Shaft 36 is provided with a cross pin 46 engaging longitudinal slots .7 in shaft 33, and similar slots in a spacing collar 4:9, interposed between gear wheel 32 and the adjacent frame plate 7. B the arrangement described it will be on that motion imparted to ratchet wheel a2, will be transmitted to shaft 36 through the frictional engagement between the conical friction member on said shaft and the tubular shaft 39 andconical recess in the hub of ratchet wheel as, and that rotation im- 36, will through the pin as,

transmit power to shaft 33 and to the cog wheel 32" rigidly secured on said shaft, It

Secured rigidly on will also be apparent that by applying presire on the knob or handle 37, to break the friction clutch connection mentioned, and then turning the knob, shaft and gear wheel 32 can be turned without imparting rotation to the ratchet wheels &2 and L3. The connection between shaft 36 and the ratchet wheels 42 and-a3, permits the apron to be reset by hand, as will be readily understood.

Engaging ratchet wheel 42 is a rack bar 50, the same being pivoted to the outer end of the core 51 of a solenoid 52 mounted on the base, said rack bar extending through a keeper or guide 53 mounted upon standard 40. The front end of the rack bar is attached to a retractile spring 5 connected to an adjustable screw 55 extending through a guide post 56, and engaged at opposite sides of the post by a pair of nuts 57. Proper manipulation of said nuts will vary the tension of the spring 54, which extends angularly with respect to the rack bar so as to hold the latter yieldingly against the ratchet wheel 1 The rack bar is equipped at the end attached to the spring, with a cross piece or armature 58 overlying the poles 59 of an electromagnet 60 secured to the base, and at the same end the rack bar is provided with a laterally-projecting finger 61 adapted, when the solenoid is energized and pulls the rack bar nearly the full distance requires, in the direction indicated by the arrow, Fig. i, to strike a late "ally-projecting pin 62 of a dog 63 pivotally mounted in a bracket 6 secured to the base, the striking of the said pin causing the dog to en gage ratchet wheel a3 and thereby instantly arrest the same and the parts rotatable therewith to prevent overthrow or overrunning movement thereof. cured to said dog 63 and to the bracket upon which the dog is mounted, yieldingly resists actuation of the dog by the rack bar inger, and returns the dog to normal pesition the instant the rack bar is returned to its initial position by spring 54:, which occurs instantly upon the demagnetization of it solenoid. The return of the dog to iniposition is arrested by the abutment of a pin 66 carried by the dog, against the bracket 6st.

The electromagnet is energized only when it is desired to effect automatic rewinding of the apron, as hereinafter explained, and is adapted for attracting armature 58 and thereby imparting sufficient downward pivctal movement to the rack bar to disengage thesame from the ratchet vheel 42.

To rewind the apron an electric motor 67 is provided, the same bein mounted on the base and equipped with a worm 68 enmeshed with gear wheel 69 rigidly secured on a transverse shaft 70 journaled in a pair of A spring 65 seoryoke slidingly mounted on a cross rod 76 connecting the standards 71, andbelow said cross rod 76, the yoke 75 is rigidly secured on a cross rod 77 slidingly mounted in standards 71 and formed at one end with teeth to constitute a rack bar 78. This rack bar engages a cog wheel 79 mounted on a longitudinal shaft 80 journaled in a pair of short standards 81 secured to the base. Shaft 80 extends out through the adjacent end wall of the casing and through an index plate 82 secured to said wall at the outer side thereof, and outward of the index plate, shaft 80 is equipped with a crank hanc le 83 whereby the shaft may be turned to slide the yoke laterally in either direction, for a pur-' pose which hereinafter appears. The handle is provided with the customary knob 84 havingthe usual spring-actuated latch pin for engagement with one of a pair of perforations 85 in the index plate, one of said perforations being associated with the word Forward andthe other with the word Reverse, appearing on said plate. Only one of the openings 85 appears, as the handle 83 covers the other. (See Fig. 7.)

The handle 83 normally stands in the position shown by Fig. 7, and thereby holds yoke 7 5, with gear wheel 72 enmeshed with a crown gear 86 journaled on the inner end of shaft 33, and said crown gear is provided with a hub 87 through which a set screw 88 extends into an annular groove 89 in shaft 33, this arrangement permitting the crown gear to turn without imparting like movement to shaft 33, and yet preventing said crown gear from moving longitudinally on said shaft.

The outer end of the hub of the crown gear is toothed to constitute a clutch member'forcooperative engagement with a clutch member 90, rotatable with and slidable on shaft 33, and said clutch member is provided with an annular groove 91 engaged by a lever 92, pivoted to a stud 93 projecting from standard 84. The lever 92 also engages an annular groove 94 in a collar 95 secured on a slidable rod 96 extending through standard 84, a standard 97 secured to the base, and an opening 98 in the index plate 82. The rod 96 is equippedwith a head or knob 99 at its outer end, and at its inner end with an insulation tip 100 engaging the lower end of a switch blade 101, pivoted to. a stud 102 secured to standard 34, and adapted to engage spaced contacts 103 alsosecured to said standard. The parts 101 and 103 constitute an ordinary knife switch, and to hold the switch open, the

upper end ofthe Switchblade is connected frame plate 7. The studs 93 and102 are insulated from the standard as shown or in any other suitable manner.

Referring now to the path or circuit for the electrical current foroperating the indicator, 105 and 106 indicate conductors leading from a feed wire to opposite ends of the solenoid 52, a switch 107 being located in conductor 106 whereby the .motorman or other authorized person may close the circuit through the solenoid on approaching each street or station to be indicated. If desired an automatic switch may be employed to close and open the circuitthrough the solenoid, but as automatic switches for the purpose mentioned are common in the art, illustration and description thereof is omitted. 7

For withdrawing the rack bar from operative relation with ratchet wheel142, the electromagnet 60 is located in a shunt cir-. suit, comprising conductor 108 leading to the electromagnet from conductor 105, and a conductor 109 leading from the electromagnet to conductor 106, the spaced contacts 103 providing a break in said circuit, and such shunt circuit is completed by the engagement of switch blade 101 with said contacts.

To provide for the operation of motor 67, a conductor 110 connects conductor 105 with one of the brushes 111 of the 1notor, and a conductor 112 connects the other brush 113 with conductor 109, and to guard against possibility of the motor being burnt out in the event the electromagnet fails to withdraw the rack bar from the ratchet wheel, a fuse 114 is located in the motor circuit. To insure safety in handling the mechanism of the indicator, a cut-out switch 115 is located in conductor 105.

The closing of the circuit to energize the solenoid, transmits power to the two rollers and thereby effects winding of the apron upon roller ll and unwinding of the apron from roller 12, it being understood, that the 110 names of the streets orstations to be inclicated are spaced upon the apron distances corresponding exactly to thedistance which the apron travels'under each operation of the solenoid. Immediately after each ad- 115 justment of theapron, the circuit is opened at switch 107, and the spring 50 returns the rackzbar and the core of the solenoid to their initial positions. The operation of the apron through the powerof the solenoid is positively'checked the instant the apron exposes a namethrough the window of the casing, by the dog63 and ratchet'43, which thereforefunctionate to preclude-the possi-, bility of momentum acquired by the ratchet wheel 42, from effecting excess travel of the apron. r y

Assuming that the apron is wound upon roller 12 and that the latter has been fitted to operative position in the machine and the apron has been fitted over rollers 9 and secured at its front end to roller 11 in any suitable manner, it will be apparent that it is necessary to tension the spring 29 so that it shall offer resistance to the unwinding of the apron from roller 12 and upon roller 11, as equal rotation of said rollers would immediately slacken the apron because of the variation in the diameters of the roller portions of the apron. The tensioning of said spring is accomplished by applying pressure on and turning knob 24 to the right, the apron preventing similar turning movement of the roller 12 because roller 11 cannot turn backward. When the spring is sufliciently tensioned the pressure on the knob is released, and the spring pin 15 associated with roller 12, reacts to reclutch member 25 with member26. Assuming now that the solenoid is energized and through the mechanism. described imparts equal rotation in the same direction to shafts 13 and 14, it will be apparent that roller 11 will turn a certain distance but that roller 12 will turn a less distance owing to the tension of spring 29, which thus keeps the apron taut. When the solenoid is operated at the next street intersection or station, the same operation occurs but as the winding of the apron on roller 11 has slightly increased the diameter of the latter and the unwinding of the apron from roller12 has slightly decreased the diameter of said roller, the apron advances a slightly greater distance than it did in the preceding adjustment, it being noticed also that as the unwinding operations of the roller 12 increase in extent while the turning of the shaft 1 1- is always equal to that of shaft 13, the tension of the spring is gradually relaxed. It will thus be seen that the tensionof the spring is weakest when the apron is equally wound on the rollers, and that from this point onward the roller 11 gradually increases in diameter and the roller 12 gradually decreases in diameter and consequently turns a greater distance than its shaft 14 and therefore begins to increase the tension of the spring 29, this increase being gradually continued until the travel of the apron is completed. This is preferably when the car has completed a round trip and reached the street or station from which it started. Under these circumstances it is apparent that the names of the streets or stationswill appear upon the apron twice.

When the travel. of the car is complete and it is desired to rewind the apron upon roller 12 for the next trip, the person in control will apply pressure on knob 99 to cause blade 101 to engage the contacts 103, and lever 92 to shift clutch member 90 into engagement with clutch member 87. The

en a 'ement of the blade 101 with contact 103 completes an electrical circuit already traced, through the motor, which transmits power to the worm wheel 69, and thence through the enmeshed wheels 72 and 86 and the clutch members 87 and 90 to shaft 33. From said shaft power is transmitted through the large gear 32 to gear wheels 22 and 28. This rotates roller 11 and shaft 14: of roller 12 backward, spring 29 turning roller 12 backward at a faster rate than its shaft turns until the apron is wound to an equal extent on the rollers, after which the roller turns at a diminishing rate of speed and in opposition to spring 29, which is thus retensioned.

Should the indicator be used on a car which makes a loop and it be desired for any reason to shorten the run of the car by cutting off or shortening the loop, the operator will desire to jump the indicator past the names of the streets within the cutoff portion of such loop, so that the car on its return trip after cutting oi the loop, may properly designate the cross streets in'the order they are reached. To meet this situation the operator while cutting off a portion of the loop, will throw crank handle 84 to the position markedForwa-rd on the dial plate (Fig. 7), andthereby disengage same direction in which it was intermittently turned through the instrumentallty of the solenoid and rack bar, and thereby instantly impart uninterrupted advance to the apron until the name of a predetermined street appears through the window opening 4. When this advance of the apron has been efiected, the pressure on knob 99is released to permit spring 104: to break the circuit and repress the knob carrying rod 96 and thereby efiectthe disengagement of said clutch members 87, and 90, so that thereafter the apron shall be advanced. intermittently for the proper displayof the names of the streets, it being, of course, understood that as the pressure on the knob 99 is released, the operator will swing crank arm 83 back to its original or reverse position, so that when the trip is ended the mere application of pressure on knob 99, will cause the motor to effect the rewinding of the apron, as hereinbefore explained.

From the above description it will be ap parent that 1 have produced a device or" the character described, which embodies the features of advantage described and claimed, and 1 wish it to be understood that while I have described and illustrated the preferred type of the invention I reserve the right to make all changes properly falling within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. I

I claim:

1. In a street or station indicator, a casing having a window, an apron extending across the window within the casing, rollers to which the opposite ends of the apron are attached, means for imparting simultaneous rotation in the same direction to the rollers, said means including a toothed wheel, a rack bar meshing therewith and yieldably mounted for being disengaged therefrom to permit the rollers being otherwise rotated, and

. means for disengaging the rack bar from the toothed wheel.

2. In a street or station indicator, a casing having a window, an apron extending across the window within the casing, rollers to which the opposite ends of the apron are attached, means for rotating the rollers including a toothed wheel, a rack bar meshing therewith and yieldably mounted for being disengaged therefrom, said rack bar having a part constituting an armature, and electro-magnetic means operable to attract the armature for disengaging the rack bar from the toothed wheel.

3. In a street or station indicator, a casing having a window, an apron extending across the window within the casing, rollers to which the opposite ends of the apron are attached, means for rotating the rollers to shift the apron past the window, said means comprising a toothed wheel, a rack bar meshing therewith, a solenoid, a core for the solenoid having the rack bar pivoted thereto for movement into and out of mesh with the toothed wheel, and means for yieldably holding the rack bar operative.

4. In a street or station indicator, a casing having a window, an apron extending across the window within the casing, rollers to which the opposite ends of the apron are attached, means for rotating the rollers comprising a toothed wheel, a rack bar meshing therewith, a solenoid having a core to which one end of the rack bar is pivoted, an armature carried by the opposite end of the rack bar, and elect-ro-magnetic means operable to attract the armature and therebydisengage the rack bar from the toothed wheel.

5. In a street or station indicator, a casing having a window, an apron extending across the window within the casing, rollers to which opposite ends of the apron are attached, a shaft geared to impart simultaneous rotation in the same direction to said rollers, a toothed wheel rotatable with said shaft, a rack bar held yieldingly in engagement with said wheel, an electromagnet, a switch and a motor in circuit, means for closing the switch to cause the magnet to disengage the rack bar from the toothed wheel and to operate the motor, a clutch member rotated by said motor, a clutch member rotatable with'said shaft, and means actuated by the switch closing means for clutching said clutch members together to cause the motor to rotate said shaft while the rack bar is disengaged from said toothed wheel.

6. In a street or station indicator, a casing having a window, an apron extending across the window within the casing, rollers to which opposite ends of the apron are attached, a shaft geared to impart simultaneous rotation in the same direction to said rollers, a toothed wheel rotatable with said shaft, a rack bar held yieldingly in engagement with said wheel, an electromagnet, a switch and a motor in circuit, means for closing the switch to cause the magnet to disengage the rack bar from the toothed wheel and to operate the motor, and means for operating the shaft when the rack bar is disengaged from the toothed wheel.

7. In a street or station indicator, a casing having a window, an apron extending across the window within the casing, rollers to which opposite ends of the apron. are attached, a. shaft geared to operate said rollers in the same direction simultaneously,a Wheel having a clutch member, a shaft bearing a journaled relation with respect to the wheel provided with the clutch member and a slidable relation with respect to said wheeland the first named shaft, and having a pin and slot connection with the latter for turning the same when rotated regardless of its slidable adjustment, and means for holding said slidable shaft with its clutch member in clutched relation to the other clutch memher; said slidable shaft when clutched with the clutch member of said clutch equipped wheel transmitting power from the latter to the first named shaft and when unclutched from said clutch equipped wheel being capable of transmitting power to turn said first named shaft.

8. In a street or station indicator, a casing, rollers journaled therein, an apron windable upon the rollers, a toothed Wheel connected to the rollers for rotating the same, a rack bar held yieldingly in engagement with the toothed wheel, an electromagnet, a switch in circuit with the latter for controlling the energization thereof, means for reciprocating the rack bar to operate the rollers, other means for rotating the rollers when the rack is disengaged from the toothed wheel, being normally inoperatively related to the rollers, and means for render ing the last means operative and simultanefor operating the rollers uninterruptedly, said first means being normally operatively related to the rollers and said second means being normally inoperatively related to the rollers, and a manually controlled mechanism for simultaneously rendering the first means inoperative and the second means operative.

10. In a street or station indicator, an apron, rollers upon which the apron is Windable, means for rotating the rollers, electrically operated reciprocating means for intermittently rotating the rollers through said means, other means for imparting a steady rotation to the rollers through the first means, and means for selectively rendering the second and third means operative.

11. In a street or station indicator, an apron, rollers upon Which the apron is Windable, electrical means for imparting an intermittent movement to the rollers, a sec- 0nd electrical means for imparting a steady rotary movement to the rollers, electrical means for rendering the first means inoperatire, mechanical means for rendering the second means inoperative, and a single means for rendering the third means operative and the fourth means inoperative. V

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature, in the presence of two Witnesses.

CORNELIUS P. F. MoDONNELL.

Witnesses:

K. M. THORPE, G. Y. THORPE. 

